Convertible coaster steered by tilting rider support



Aug. 31, 1965 A. c. BOYDEN 3,203,706

CONVERTIBLE COASTER STEERED BY TILTING RIDER SUPPORT Filed Sept. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZQMA 5 2 20 L: P 8 SJ I 40 I8 626 I2 38 42 i 32 I4 34 30 'W mi Flg. 3 4

INVENTOR.

ALBERT C. BOYDEN BY jamsm g- 31, 1965 A. c. BOYDEN 3,203,706

CONVERTIBLE GOASTER STEERED BY TILTING RIDER SUPPORT Filed Sept. 50, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F A '3 INVENTOR. 4 ALBERT C. BOYDEN United States Patent 1 O 3,203,706 CONVERTIBLE COASTER STEERED BY TILTING RIDER SUPPORT Albert C. Boyden, San Diego, Calif. (1336 Pepperville Drive, El Cajon, Calif.) Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,422 4 Claims. (Cl. 2807.12)

The present invention relates to improvements in toys and more particularly to a self-steering coaster adapted to be used in a standing position with one or both feet on the coaster platform.

This application is an improvement on the subject matter disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent Number 3,023,022 issued February 27, 1962.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved toy coaster which can be steered by a person during coasting by shifting his weight laterally while in a standing position to cause the supporting means to be steered at the front and rear of the supporting platform.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved toy coaster provided with an elongated platform, and which is stelf-steering by merely shifting the weight of the occupant from one side to the other of a longitudinal center line extending through the platform.

A still further object is to provide a coaster as above set forth having an improved undercarriage with stop means to prevent jamming of the supporting means against the platform.

A still further and important object of this invention is to provide an improved undercarriage for a coaster as above set forth that is readily adapted for use with wheels or sled runners.

Finally it is an object to provide an undercarriage for vehicle toys of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combina tion and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the coaster of the present invention equipped with sled runners;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom View of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in section on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the pivotal feature of the undercarriage;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the coaster equipped with wheels; and

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the modification shown in FIGURE 6.

Like reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts throughout several views of the drawing.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1-5 there is shown one embodiment of the invention in which the supporting means for the platform, hereinafter referred to broadly as the ground-contacting elements, are exemplified by a pair of sled runners for use on snow or ice arranged in tandem relationship. Elongated platform 10 is provided with my novel undercarriage, generally indicated by the reference number 12, at the front and rear ends thereof. Each undercarriage 12 has secured thereto a sled runner 14 of generally conventional design. A post or handle 16 is positioned at the forward end of the platform 10 in a position to be gripped by the operator, and may be pivoted at 18 if desired to fold flat against the platform when not in use, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

With particular reference to FIGURES 3 to 5 I have shown in detail the features of the undercarriage thatis mounted at the forward end of platform 10. This undercarriage includes a sheet metal, generally V-shaped, rigid strap bracket having a downwardly and forwardly extending leg 20 and a generally vertically extending leg 22. Each leg is secured to the platform 10 by suitable elements fixed to the platform ,such as bolts 24. A transversely extending support member 26, in the form of an inverted U, is pivotally secured to the leg 20, adjacent its lower end by any suitable bolt or king pin means'28. Sled runner 14 is secured to pivot on the lower end of each inverted U-shaped member 26 by any suitable means such as the bolt 30. A pair of equalizer springs 32, 34 may be connected between the support 'member and the sled runner 14, if desired, to assure that the sled runner always remains in parallel relationship with platform 10.

Member 26 is provided, adjacent the ends thereof with holes or openings 36 into which are hooked the free ends of V-shaped yoke member 38. A tension spring 40 has one end connected to the yoke member 38 at 42 and the other end connected to plate 44 secured to the underside of platform 10 at substantially the midpoint thereof. As clearly shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 5 member 26, and with it sled runner 14, may pivot about king pin 28. Pivotal movement is limited by engagement of support 26 with stops 46 which may be conveniently bent down from opposite edges of leg 20.

Undercarriage 12 at the rear of platform 10 is similar to the one mounted at the forward end of the platform except that its position is reversed, that is the legs 20 are in opposed relationship and the leg 20 of the rear undercarriage extends downwardly and rearwardly rather than downwardly and forwardly.

In use the user or occupant of the coaster stands upon the platform in a position of equilibrium and may coast downhill while in a standing position, proper balance being maintained by gripping the handle 16. While traveling along horizontal surfaces the occupant may balance himself on one foot and propel the coaster by pushingrearwardly on the surface with the other foot. When it is desired to turn to the right or left the occupant merely shifts his weight from one side to the other, depending upon the direction of turning desired, on opposite sides of the platform longitudinal center line. By reason of the inclined opposed legs 20 which pivotally support member 26 the self-steering can be controlled by a slight shifting of the weight from one side to the other of the platform.

A second embodiment The modified form shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is essentially the same structurally with respect to the platform and undercarriage as that previously described, but has been modified for use on sidewalks and pavements. To this end the ground contacting elements are provided in the form of wheels 48 substituted for the sled runners 14, the wheels 48 being fully rotatably mounted on the ends of axles 50, which correspond structurally and functionally with the bolts 30, and which are mounted on inverted U-shaped supporting members 52 corresponding with similar members 26 hereinbefore described.

The platform 10 may be made of any suitable material such as wood or lightweight metal and should be of a length slightly greater than twice the length of the occupants shoe so that the occupants feet may be posi- 8 tioned one in front of the other and in a position of equilibrium when standing erect.

It is understood that minor variations from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from'the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim: 4

1. In" a vehicle toy of the type having an elongated platform of a length to permit a person to stand on the platform with one foot in front of the other, undercarriage means for said vehicle comprising:

sheet metal, generally V-shaped, rigid strap brackets mounted on thevunderside of said platform located at the front and rear thereof, each of said brackets .having a generally vertical leg, the bracket at the front having a leg inclined downwardly and forwardly, the bracket at the rear having a leg inclined downwardly and rearwardly;

' a transverse support member mounted on said inclined leg of each bracket for pivotal movement about axes normal to said inclined legs;

spring means connecting each transverse support memher to said platform and urging said transverse support members into positions at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of said platform; and ground-contacting elements secured to each of said support members.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said inclined legs and support members have interengaging stop means on opposite sides of said axes for limiting the pivotal movement of said support members.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said last named means comprises wheels mounted on opposite ends of said support member and said inclined legs have deformed portions on opposite edges thereof constituting stops limiting the pivotal movement of the support members.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said last named means includes sled runners connected to each support member and said inclined legs have deformed portions on opposite edges thereof constituting stops limiting the pivotal movement of the support members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,510 10/85 Owsley et al. 280-11.19 1,663,060 3/28 Rainey 2807.14 2,330,147 9/43 Rodriguez 28087.04 3,023,022 2/62 Boyden 28087.04

FOREIGN PATENTS 66,657 4/48 Denmark. 737,471 10/32 France.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A VEHICLE TOY OF THE TYPE HAVING AN ELONGATED PLATFORM OF A LENGTH TO PERMIT A PERSON TO STAND ON THE PLATFORM WITH ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, UNDERCARRIAGE MEANS FOR SAID VEHICLE COMPRISING: SHEET METAL, GENERALLY V-SHAPED, RIGID STRAP BRACKETS MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID PLATFORM LOCATED AT THE FRONT AND REAR THEREOF, EACH OF SAID BRACKETS HAVING A GENERALLY VERTICAL LEG, THE BRACKET AT THE FRONT HAVING A LEG INCLINED DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY, THE BRACKET AT THE REAR HAVING A LEG INCLINED DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY; A TRANSVERSE SUPPORT MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID INCLINED LEG OF EACH BRACKET FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES NORMAL TO SAID INCLINED LEGS; SPRING MEANS CONNECTING EACH TRANSVERSE SUPPORT MEMBER TO SAID PLATFORM AND URGING SAID TRANSVERSE SUPPORT MEMBERS INTO POSITIONS AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PLATFORM; AND GROUND-CONTACTING ELEMENTS SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS. 